Dromore Group demands inquiry into Jeffrey Donaldson's conduct
The Dromore Group is calling for an independent parliamentary inquiry into the conduct of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, following a fresh rape allegation concerning Westminster.
FOLLOWING a new rape allegation concerning former MP Jeffrey Donaldson, the Dromore Group has called for an independent parliamentary inquiry into the allegation and his wider conduct, including any failures of safeguarding, oversight or accountability during his time as an MP.
Donaldson is the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). In a letter to Daniel Greenberg, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, the Group says Donaldson’s conviction for 18 sexual offences against two children, including rape, and his 15-year prison sentence on 15 October must be considered alongside the recent allegation concerning Westminster.
It also calls for an examination of reports of public drunkenness and alleged sexual misconduct during official duties that may have brought Westminster into disrepute.
On 21 October, it was reported that the Metropolitan Police were investigating an allegation that Donaldson raped a woman inside the parliamentary estate in 2016.
Tony Gribben, on behalf of the Dromore Group, said: ‘The questions now extend beyond Jeffrey Donaldson himself. What did others know? Were concerns raised, recorded and acted upon? And were Parliament’s safeguarding arrangements adequate to protect those working on or visiting its premises?’
The Dromore Group says the DUP’s internal investigation cannot provide the same independence or institutional reach as a properly constituted parliamentary inquiry. The Group wants an independent investigation to establish whether parliamentary authorities received earlier complaints, disclosures or warnings; how any concerns were handled; whether relevant standards were breached; and whether failures of communication or oversight left people exposed to risk.
The proposed inquiry would not duplicate police investigations. Its purpose would be to establish the facts relevant to parliamentary accountability, identify any institutional failures and recommend safeguards for the future.
Gribben added: ‘An allegation of rape within the parliamentary estate makes independent scrutiny particularly urgent. Parliament must demonstrate that serious complaints involving MPs and former MPs are handled promptly, fairly and transparently—and that personal or institutional reputation never takes precedence over accountability.’